High School Singers Showcase

The Handel Aria Competition is pleased to announce the second year of our new initiative: the Handel Aria Competition High School Singers Showcase. Our goal is to encourage high school singers in the Madison, Wisconsin area to explore works from Handel’s vocal repertoire. All participating high school singers receive a $100 scholarship towards voice lessons or membership in the Madison Youth Choirs.

The 2nd Handel Aria Competition High School Singers Showcase took place at Capitol Lakes, 333 West Main Street in Madison, WI at 2:00 onSaturday, February 8, 2020. Six local singers each presented a Handel aria, accompanied by pianist Scott Gendel. This year’s concert had a special feature: it opened with the Choraliers, the youngest performing group from the Madison Youth Choirs, singing Handel’s famous ‘Ombra Mai Fu’ under the direction of Lisa Kjentvet.

Our inaugural High School Singers Showcase, which took place January 26, 2019, featured five talented sopranos each singing one of Handel’s arias. The singers were accompanied by Karlos Moser, University of Wisconsin Opera Director Emeritus, on piano. Founding artistic director Cheryl Bensman-Rowe and current artistic director Sarah Brailey started the program off with Handel’s lovely “Welcome as the dawn of day” duet from Solomon. The 2019 High School Singers Showcase singers were Ava DeCroix, Daphne Buan, Cecelia League, Alanna Beilke, and Virginia Morgan.